Electric switch



M. BORGE, JR. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2,1920.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922 BMW MA/W/EA BO S W/T/VES 5 UNITED STATES rA'rizrrrorrics.

MANUEL BORGE, JR, or MANAGUA, meanness..

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application med April 2,

T (1Z7 1072.012). wi a-g concern:

Be it known that I. Manor-L llonon, Jr. a citizen of Nicaragua; residing at Managua. Nicaragua, Cent *al America have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following I a specification.

This invention has for its object the conservation of electricity in a lighting system and provides a switch to control the light of a given line, so that when one light is turned on, the other lights in the same line or circuit are turned off, thereby preventing waste.

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. However. it is to be understood that in adapting'the same to meet different conditions, various ciiangcs in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings hereto attached,

Figure l is a top plan view of an electric switch embodying the invention Figure 2 is a view of the switch inverted or as seen from the bottom side,

Figure 3 is a central section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Figure 4e is a top view of the base, the cap, center post and movable switch member ing omitted.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the base showing more clearly the manner of securing a contact element thereto.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the series of contacts.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the yieldable fastening co-operating with the center post.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters. a

The switch comprises a base 1 which may be of vulcanite paper or other suitable in sulating material such as commonly employed in the construction of electrical devices. This base may have any form and as shown is of circular outline and is provided upon its under side with supporting feet 2. An opening is formed centrally within the base 1 and receives a bushing or thimble 3 which constitutes a bearing for a post or stem 4: which is rotatably mounted therein.

Specification of Letters E atent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

1920. Serial No. 370,-877,

r .-.q .Lnoup ci portion of the base is reduced to receive a cape, which may be of any suitable material and made fast to the baseby any preferred securing means. The post l projects beyond the cap5 and its projecting end receives a button 6, the edgeof which is milled or roughened to enable the fingers of the hand to obtain a positive grip thereon for convenience of turning the postin the operation of the switch. i

A plurality of contacts 7 upon the upper side of the base 1 These contacts are yieldable and are disposed equi-- distantfrom one another and from'the post 43:. It will thus be understood that the contacts 7 have a circulararrangement. In

the preferable construction kerfs or saw cuts 8 are formed in the outer edge of the base 1 and extend radially and receive the shank 9 of the several contacts 7. Each of the contacts 7 is formed from a strip of spring metal which has its end portions bent as indicated at 10 and 11. The bent ends 10 underlap the bottom side of the base 1 and are apertured to receive screws or other suitable fastenings 11 by means of which the contacts are positively held in the located position. The upper ends 11 of the strips are bent into the form of loops which are disposed in a plane parallel with the base. The upper elements of the loops 11 con stitute the contacts proper with which the movable contact member of the switch makes electrical contact. v

The post 4 is stepped in the thimble or bushing 3 and is adapted to be adjusted by means of a set screw 12 threaded into the lower end of the thimble 3. A member 13 co-operates with the post 4 and retains it in position. The member 13 consists ofa'strip of spring metal having its end portions 6X- tending backward so as to occupy a position at opposite sides of the post. An opening 14 is formed centrally of the member 13 to receive the post 4. The projecting ends of the strip are indented so as to receive the post and enter a groove formed therein. The member 13 constitutes in effect securing means for the post so as to prevent its with-- drawal after the parts have been properly assembled.

A finger 15 is secured to the post 4 so as to rotate therewith. This finger is adapted to make electric connection with any one of the contacts 78 A finger 16 is likewise seis provided cured to the post i so as to turn therewith and constitutes a pointer. The finger 16 is located exterior to the cap 5 and co-operates with indications 17 provided upon the outer side of the cap so that it may be known with certainty which of the contacts 7 is electrically engaged by the movable switch member 15 when operating the switch.

When the switch is in operative position, one of the leads is electrically connected with the post 4 and the leads from the several lamps are connected to the respective contacts 7. It is to be understood that the wiring must be such that when the switch is operated to bring the member 15 in electrical engagement with any one of the contacts 7, the circuit including such contact elements is closed to the exclusion of the other circuits so that only one lamp is lighted and the other lamps on the same line or circuit remain turned off. By reference to the indications 17 any one of the lamps on a line or circuit may be lighted to the exclusion of the other lamps and as a result there is no waste of electricity since no unnecessary lamps are lighted.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric switch a post, a support therefor, contacts on the support, a contact rotatable with the post, and a yieldable fastening mounted on the post and consisting of a strip of spring metal. having its end portions extending backwardly and the extremities of the extended portions engaging the post at opposite sides.

2. A switch of the character specified comprising a base provided with slits, and contacts on the base and comprising portions fitting within the slits and projecting beyond opposite sides of the base and having the projecting ends extending substantially at right angles to the portions in the slits, one of the projecting ends being secured to the base and the other projecting end constituting a loop which is disposed in a plane approximately parallel with the base.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MANUEL BORGE, HIJO.

Witnesses JUAN R. Ronnionnz hlonims, J osn MoRnNs.

desire to secure by 

